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Sumit SinghalSumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination.

Lighthouse 65 in South Coast of England by AR Design Studio

Winner of the RIBA Downland Award 2012.
‘The Lighthouse’ is a beachfront property on the south coast of England. It is a super insulated, luxury 3 bedroom house sitting in a beautiful water side location enjoying stunning views of the Solent and the Isle of Wight.

The design concept whilst taking inspiration from traditional beach pavilions such as the De La Warr in Bexhill, was to maximize the building’s width, so every key room enjoys expansive views over the vista. All bathrooms and utility spaces run at the rear of the property, allowing the view to be continuous for all ‘living’ spaces.

Image Courtesy AR Design Studio

The house sits 7 metres below road level with the roof acting as a parking deck for 3 cars. Visually the roof and floor decks are hung from the central concrete core, terminating in large cantilevers that provide shade and open-air shelter to the ground floor.

Image Courtesy AR Design Studio

An illuminated frameless glass cube sits at the top of the concrete core, that whilst providing access, lights up, triggered via a barometer giving the building its name; “lighthouse 65”. At night the lit glass glows to indicate local weather conditions: green when weather is fair and red when atmospheric pressure drops, warning passing yachtsmen of possible stormy conditions.